The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation is poised to return $2.89 million to 76 entities in Lake and Geauga counties as part of a proposed $1 billion rebate plan offered last week by Gov. John Kasich and BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer.

In Lake County, 46 entities would receive a combined $2.07 million in proposed rebates from the state BWC, according to figures released Monday by Kasich's office. In Geauga County, 30 entities would receive a combined $816,210 in proposed rebates.

Eastlake would receive $84,660 in rebates based on paid premiums of $151,188.

Mayor Ted Andrzejewski said it was great news for the city.

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"I made a suggestion to council that we use this money to open this pool this year and open it next year," Andrzejewski said. "It would be a great use of the money that we didn't expect for the benefit of the people of Eastlake."

Willoughby would receive a $209,020 rebate based on paid premiums of $373,268.

City Finance Director Ray Rogowski said the city would likely use the money to offset the costs of increased workers compensation spending after two city employees recently died in the line of duty.

The city is considering a move to a self-insured workers compensation program because it won't be eligible for group rates like those offered through the BWC and Ohio Municipal League, he said.

"These funds will be used to help even out spending as we take an increase in spending for the next few years," he said. "We never experienced that before and hopefully we won't be experiencing it again."

Other entities in Lake County such as the city of Mentor would receive $175,280 in rebates and Willoughby-Eastlake Schools would receive $131,690 in rebates.

In Geauga County, among the entities slated to receive rebates are the county government, $386,200; Chardon, $43,030; Chardon Schools, $95,540; and Ledgemont Schools, $9,420.

Across the state, the BWC would return $112.8 million to nearly 3,800 local governments and schools.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern said Kasich's proposal really amounted to an inadequate shell game that is more interested in public relations than doing right by Ohio families and making investments in children.

"Since taking office, he slashed education funding by $1.8 billion while passing $1.3 billion of the cost of educating our children along to local taxpayers -- all to pay for handouts for the wealthy," Redfern said in a statement.

The governor's BWC proposal also includes a tripling of safety grants and a 4 percent rate reduction for public employers.

Rebates and reforms are made possible by larger-than-expected fund balances at BWC generated by strong investment management, officials said.

Of the $112.8 million that would be returned, schools would receive the largest portion of the rebate -- approximately $42.5 million.

Cities would receive $37 million, counties would receive $16.5 million and townships would receive $7.6 million.

Some of Ohio's local governments and schools are self-insured and do not pay into the BWC system and are therefore not impacted by the rebate plan.

Lake County government has self-insured workers compensation for the past decade and would not be eligible for a rebate.

"We average about $1 million per year savings as opposed to the state program," said Bill Margalis, director of administrative services.

The amount each public employer will receive equals approximately 56 percent of their annual workers' compensation insurance premium. That premium is based on the size of their payroll and is modified by factors such as the type of work their employees do and claims experience.

If approved by the BWC Board of Directors on May 30, checks could be mailed as early as June or July.

The proposal would be funded from BWC's net assets, which have grown to $8.3 billion and are far in excess of the target funding ratio of assets to liabilities established by the BWC board in 2008.

Proposed Bureau of Workers Compensations rebates estimates for local governments and schools in Lake and Geauga counties.